Former KU Soccer Duo Named to Colombian Olympic Squad

BOGOTÁ, Colombia – A pair of former Kansas soccer stars found their names on their country’s Olympic team roster when the Colombian National squad announced the group bound for Rio Thursday night. Liana Salazar and Ingrid Vidal will compete for their nation in the Olympic Games for the second time when the tournament commences on August 3 in Brazil.
 
Salazar returns to action with her national club coming off a highly successful career with the Jayhawks. From 2011-15 Salazar tallied 28 goals, the second-most in program history, while also adding 12 assists. She was a two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection and was also named a Third Team All-American in 2014. This will be Salazar’s third stint with her senior national team in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament. She appeared in two matches at the 2012 Olympics in London as well as a pair of contests at the 2011 World Cup in Germany.
 
Vidal only spent one season with Kansas, but it was one of the best offensive seasons in school history. Vidal scored 11 goals, the second-most ever by a Jayhawk freshman, and added six assists in 2011. The Olympic tournament will be her fourth FIFA competition with the senior women’s squad. She played alongside Salazar in the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympics and also helped Colombia in its run to the Round of 16 in the 2015 World Cup in Canada last summer.
 
Salazar and Vidal will hit the pitch for the first match of Group G play versus France on Aug. 3 in Mineirão. Kickoff from Belo Horizonte Stadium is slated for 8 p.m. (CT). Colombia will then meet New Zealand on Aug. 6, before taking on the reigning Olympic and World Cup Champion, USA, on Aug. 9.
 
 
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