While the Sonoma State women's soccer team was highly regarded in the early 80's, it was the teams of the late 80's that really put the school on the map. After a two-year hiatus from 1985-86, Peter Reynaud came back to SSU in 1987 and picked up where he left off. What followed was the creation of a soccer dynasty that culminated in 1990 with a National Championship.
Sonoma State has had its share of great women's soccerp players. In the late 1980's, none were greater than Judy Vonheeder. A sweeper/defender, Vonheeder played at SSU in 1985 and from 1987-1989. SHe was forced to redshirt in 1986 after a knee injury.
Vonheeder's list of athletic accomplishments are impressive. She was invited to the U.S. National Tema Tryouts in 1984 and 1986. In 1988, along with future Olympians Joy Fawcett and Brandi Chastain, she helped the California Tremors amateur team to a national title. For time and space restrictions, however, we'll focus on her accomplishments at Sonoma State.
A central figure in building the SSU dynasty, Vonheeder was one of the most respected and dominating players on the field. With numerous All-Conference and All-Region honrs to her list of accomplishments, Vonheeder's legacy was lifted ot another level in 1988 when she was named Honorable Mention All-American. Her 1989 season garnered even more accoaldes as Vonheeder gained First Team All-American honors. Along with Cindy Romero, who was a First Team All-American in '88, Vonheeder started a legacy. From 1988 to 2000, at least one SSU player (and often more) was named to the All-American team.
After graduating from SSU, Vonheeder joined the Police Academywhere she took third in her entire class for Physical Fitness and Defensive Tactics. She also showed that her leadership reached far beyond the soccer field as she received the California Academy Directors Award for Leadership. These days, Judy (now Judy Mefferd) can be seen around campus protecting SSU as a police officer.
