For the third time in three years, the Tippecanoe girls will be playing for a new soccer coach.

Brandon Baker, a 2000 graduate of Newton High School, is at the helm this season, replacing Doug Rave who decided to take over the soccer program at Bethel High School.

"I coached at Bethel last year, so Doug and I just switched schools," said Baker, a six-year employee at Broadway Elementary School.

Six seniors and five juniors are on the Red Devil squad. Besides playing for Doug Rave last season, most of these veteran players also played as sophomores or freshmen for Coach Heather Thompson in her final season of 2010.

Senior defenders Madison Gioiello and Capri Rinke join senior midfielders Vickie Grieshop, Sarah Janosik, Taylor Rittenhouse and Morgan Stith as the senior class athletes. Juniors include goalie Samatha "Sam" Bonifas, defender Alex Harrison, midfielder Sarah Colvin and forwards Chelsea Clawson and Sarah Harmer.

Several sophomores are vying for varsity spots as well.

Baker has observed the players twice a week for 90-minute open field exercises at Tippecanoe High School. However, he cannot assume coaching responsibiites until late July, nearly two weeks before the first scrimmage.

His varsity roster, he said, should be completed by early August.

"We have scheduled a scrimmage on Wednesday, Aug. 8, against Chaminade Julienne," Baker said. "We will host the scimmage at Tipp Park, with a 7 p.m. start time."

The Red Devilalso plan to compete in road scrimmages against Piqua and Lebanon before the official start on the season on Saturday, Aug. 25.

"We will host Troy at 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 25, which will be our first regular season game," Baker said. "But it will be the third game (of the season) for the Trojans, according to the schedule, and just our first game."

In the non-league county rivalry, the teams split in the past two season. The Red Devils whitewashed the Trojans 2-0 in 2010 but lost 3-0 to Troy last year.

Tippecanoe assistant coach Sara Drexler, 1999 Red Devil graduate who played soccer for four years, is back for her fifth season as the head coach of the junior varsity.

"We look forward to the season starting," Drexler said.