AUSTIN, Texas – Sophomore Natalie Paulson of the Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team was named to the 2023 Division II Academic All-America women's soccer second team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) on Wednesday.
 
The Division II Academic All-America program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist the College Sports Communicators with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2023-24 Division II Academic All-America program.
 
Paulson is coming off one of the greatest seasons by a Cougar in program history as the Long Beach native was named a first-team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches while earning third-team honors from the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association earlier this month.
 
Paulson was previously named to the D2 CCA and United Soccer Coaches All-West Region first teams after being voted as the CCAA Player and Defender of the Year. The All-CCAA first-team selection concluded the 2023 season with a team-high six goals while ranking second on the team in points with 12. Three of her six goals were game-winning goals, tying for the fourth most in a single season at CSUSM.
 
As the Cougars won their first conference tournament championship this season, Paulson went on to be named the CCAA Tournament's Most Valuable Defensive Player.
 
Out of the 33 Division II honorees, Paulson was one of 16 with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She was also the lone representative from the CCAA to be named to the CSC All-America teams and was just one of two from the West Region (Claire Henninger – Western Washington).

Paulson is the second CSC Academic All-American in program history as goalkeeper Bailey Cockrill also earned second-team honors in 2017.