NORFOLK — Nearly five years ago, Yuliia Khrystiuk left her home in Ukraine for America, where she would get an education and play soccer at Old Dominion. It’s what she wanted, even if she was well aware it would be a challenge.

And it has been. Some hurdles, like starting college during a pandemic and adjusting to a different culture, she was prepared for. But not a knee injury that ended her season before it started. And certainly not the brutal invasion of her homeland.

Yuliia (rhymes with Julia) dealt with this some 5,000 miles from her family. But she wasn’t alone.

“I’m so grateful for my teammates,” said Khrystiuk, a grad student and forward for the Monarchs. “They’ve been supportive through my injury, the war, any setbacks. They’ve always supported me and written me notes asking h

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