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The U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships start today, and although they qualified in January, the Greensboro Twisters Green have spent the past month scrambling to get back into game shape.

The Twisters are an under-17 girls team comprised of players from the Greensboro area. The tournament, which draws more than 100 teams and 4,000 players in various age brackets, will pit the Twisters against other teams in the Southern region. The regionals will be held in Raleigh and Wilson.

Because most of the girls haven't played since their high school seasons ended, a large part of their training has been getting their bodies back into proper soccer form.

"We're a good team," said Jessi Gulledge, a rising senior at Ragsdale. "We just really need to work hard and focus on getting back into shape."

The girls have also spent the past four weeks trying to come together again as a team. This has been a particular challenge because they live in different cities.

"The cohesion is something that we're trying to form, but that's the hardest part," coach Michael Thorn said.

Making the situation more difficult is the fact that Thorn joined the team recently.

"We've had to get the girls back as a unit as quickly as possible," he said. "With a new coach, as well, it's going to be very difficult."

But the girls are approaching this weekend with confidence. As a team that has been to the regionals before, they go into this year's competition with an idea of what's in store.

"We know what to expect," said Claire O'Keeffe, a rising senior at Western Guilford. "This year is kind of different, since we're going with a coach that's new."

The team has seemed to gravitate towards Thorn's coaching style.

"All the girls love Coach Thorn," O'Keeffe said. "He's such an excellent coach. He knows what it takes to win."

That's not just lip service. As a player, Thorn won a PDL championship with the Carolina Dynamo. He also played for the UNCG men's soccer team.

Thorn said the girls have made a conscious effort to adhere to the guidance he's given them.

"They believe in me and what I'm trying to tell them," he said. "I think they're really focused."

Another factor working in the Twisters' favor is their familiarity with each other.

"It's been awesome," Gulledge said. "Everyone really pushes you. It's a really good team to get better with."

The Twisters like their chances going into the tournament. Though they admit to facing a tough bracket, the girls are confident in their talent.

"I think we can hang with anybody when we're all together," Gulledge said. "We just all have to want it."

Contact Joel Brown at 373-7091 or joel.brown@news-record.com