Colombian national soccer player Ingrid Vidal on Tuesday signed a national letter of intent to play at Kansas University beginning in the 2011-12 season.

Vidal recently participated for Colombia in the Women’s World Cup. She will be the second Colombian player to suit up for KU, joining national teammate and KU freshman Liana Salazar.

“Ingrid is very crafty with the ball and catches the defense off-guard,” KU soccer coach Mark Francis said in a press release. “She is a goal scorer. She combines well with other players and plays great defense off the ball.”

Vidal, a 5-foot-2 forward, appeared in two of Colombia’s three matches during this year’s World Cup. Leading up to the tournament, Vidal scored the game-winning goal in Colombia’s 1-0 defeat over Argentina to advance her team into the World Cup finals.

Vidal was offered a professional contract to play in Germany, but turned it down to come to Kansas.

“The fact that Ingrid turned down a professional contract says a lot about her priorities,” Francis said. “It shows her testament as a student-athlete and that she wants to get a college education.”

Kansas will open its season when it plays host to Butler at 1 p.m. on Aug. 14 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.