PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh State senior captain Taya Balfour has been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team, as announced by the organization.
The honor recognizes Balfour’s exceptional success both on the ice and in the classroom.
A business administration and international business and marketing major with a 3.96 cumulative GPA, Balfour appeared in all 28 games for the Cardinals during the 2025-26 season, totaling 22 points on seven goals and 15 assists while serving as one of the nation’s top defensemen.
She finished the season with a +25 rating, recorded two game-winning goals and blocked 34 shots to help anchor one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division III.
Balfour’s outstanding season earned her a collection of national and conference honors, including AHCA CCM Hockey Division III All-America Second Team recognition, DIII Hockey News Second Team All-America honors, SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades and First Team All-SUNYAC recognition.
She also helped lead PSU to its second consecutive SUNYAC championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship Tournament.
With her Academic All-America selection, Balfour becomes the first Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors since Kassi Abbot was named to the third team in 2018-19.
ABOUT THE AWARD
Academic All-America is one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate athletics, reserved for student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their sport while excelling academically.
Established in 1952 and selected by CSC, the program is the longest-running and premier award recognizing athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges and Canadian institutions.
The all-time list of over 44,000 Academic All-Americans includes some of the world’s most accomplished individuals in sports, medicine, business, science and the arts.