When Kansas University soccer standout Liana Salazar returned to her native Colombia this past summer, she figured her stay would be short, just a detour on her way to Canada.

In 2011, as an 18-year-old, Salazar represented her country at the World Cup, in Germany. She headed home after her spring semester at KU earlier this year to try out for the Colombian national team again and intent on playing once more on a global stage.

But when Las Cafeteras headed north for the World Cup, they did so with 23 players other than Salazar. So she spent her summer in Colombia and watched on TV as her compatriots went 1-1-1 without her.

Clearly disappointed in how it played out, all Salazar could say now is: “These things happen.”

United States' Carli Lloyd, left, and Colombia's Liana Salazar challenge for the ball during the group C match between the United States and Colombia at the Women’s Soccer World Cup in Sinsheim, Germany, Saturday, July 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

KU’s 5-foot-3 senior midfielder appeared in all three World Cup games for Colombia four years earlier and even started in a 3-0 loss to USA. But this time around, as a student living in Kansas, she couldn’t very well return home to compete in the qualification matches leading up to the headlining event.

That hurt Salazar’s chances, primarily because those were the first games for Colombia under new national-team coach Fabian Taborda, who took over in July, 2014.

“Soccer-wise, I knew I was in a really good spot,” Salazar said of her thought process headed into the tryouts. However, when she didn’t make the roster, she realized Taborda’s unfamiliarity with her probably kept her from adding to her international experience.

The whole ordeal remains a sore subject for the Bogotá native, but she realizes she can learn from the experience. Plus, she returned to Kansas for her final fall semester on good terms with Colombia’s head coach. Taborda told her: “Just be ready. You’re gonna be called for the Olympic Games.”

A summer trip to Rio de Janeiro might be on the horizon for 2016, but Salazar tries to keep herself in the present.

“I’m still super-young, and looking forward I think I’m gonna have more time to think about the next World Cup or Olympic Games or that kind of stuff,” she said. “Right now I’m just thinking about Kansas, Kansas soccer, and that’s all that matters.”

Though the Jayhawks began the season 0-1-1, by going scoreless in two road games this past weekend, they know having Salazar means that trend likely won’t last. After scoring 13 goals and passing out four assists as a junior, she was one of 28 players nationwide to make the watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, considered the most prestigious award in college soccer. Salazar also was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s “Best XI” preseason first team.

“As a team, we really want to win the Big 12,” Salazar said of KU’s expectations for the next couple of months. “We think we are capable of doing that.”

She also listed a second straight NCAA Tournament berth as a goal for the Jayhawks.

“I really want to enjoy my senior year and give all I have to the program,” Salazar said. “And after that, in December or January, I’m gonna start thinking about the national team.”