Members of a Tamaqua Area Youth Soccer team recite the words “One Team, One Family” during games and practices.

They did so this spring season, but with one major change: They also said it in Ukrainian.

It was a way to help their newest teammate, Misha Huziienko, of Kiev, Ukraine, feel a little more at home.

“When Misha came to the first practice, the team really welcomed him with open arms,” explained coach Rob Van Norman.

Misha, 7, and his brother, Tykhon, 11, left Ukraine in March with their mother after their father was ordered to fight in the war.

Cheryl Humes, of the Tamaqua area, hosted the family through the government program “Uniting for Ukraine.”

“It was established to help Ukrainians fleeing the war,” Humes said.

While here, the boys enrolled in West Penn Elementary School and signed up for the youth soccer league.

Although he’s only 7, Misha’s soccer skills landed him a spot on Team Super Sam, where he was 2 years younger than most other players.

“I was actually shocked at how good he was,” Van Norman said.

Admittedly, there was a language barrier. Coaches and players communicated with Misha through “a lot of hand gestures” and the aid of Google Translate.

“One thing we really wanted to concentrate on - the coaches and the parents - we wanted to keep his mind off what was going on at his home and the dangers his father was facing on a daily basis,” Van Norman said.

Misha’s English skills began to improve, and he continued to be a standout on the field. The team finished the season undefeated.

Gabe Van Norman, 9, recalled some of the season’s highlights and many included Misha.

“He is very funny,” Gabe said. “He never stops smiling. When he would score, he would get the biggest smile.”

The team came up with a “secret” handshake to use after a goal or impressive play. Misha caught on immediately.

And player Charlotte “Charlie” Watson, 8, had a secret of her own. She was used to saying the team’s mantra of “One Team, One Family” but wanted to learn how to say it in Ukrainian.

Her mother, Holly Watson, said Charlie found the pronunciation online, and listened to it over and over. She even wrote the saying on her school notebooks so she could practice and memorize it before teaching it to her teammates without Misha’s knowledge.

Misha lit up when he heard his fellow players chanting the words in Ukrainian.

Van Norman said despite their young ages, teammates acted like United States ambassadors. Any differences they might have sensed, he said, they “threw out the window.”

“They didn’t view Mischa as different,” Holly Watson said.

The team said their goodbyes to Misha at the end of the season.

Tykhon’s U-11 soccer team also wished him well at the end of the season.

“He was a well-mannered young man who definitely had some soccer skills. No matter what position we put him in to play, he gave 110% every time. The language barrier was tough but he always took on everything with a smile. I wish him luck and safe travels, we will definitely miss his energy. I know he will do well in soccer in the future,” his coach, Brian Plantz, said.

And just this week, the Ukrainian family said goodbye to the United States.

Unfortunately, the boys’ father was injured in the war. The family is returning to be closer to him as he mends, Humes said.