(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 28) – The McKendree University women's ice hockey team will open its inaugural season on the road Friday at the University of Miami (Ohio). The women play on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 4:10 p.m., and both games will be played at the Goggin Ice Center in Oxford, Ohio.
 
The team is set to compete at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 1 level. Behind the bench for the Bearcats is head coach Craig Buntenbach, who was hired by McKendree after serving as the director of hockey operations and head coach for the women's hockey team at Lindenwood University-Belleville from 2013 to 2015. Under his leadership, the Lynx compiled 21 victories during their inaugural season in 2014-15.
 
Buntenbach is joined by graduate assistant coach Madyson Moore, who had a memorable career as a member of the Norwich University women's ice hockey team. While at Norwich, Moore was instrumental in helping lead her team to two NCAA D3 Frozen Four appearances, finishing as the national runner-up in 2014 and semifinalist in 2015.
 
"The team as a whole is looking good and getting acclimated to the collegiate level of hockey," said Moore. "The girls have been working hard and the team is really coming together well, they're all really excited for the road trip to Miami this weekend."
 
McKendree heads into the season with a pre-ranking of No. 14. The Bearcats will open their inaugural season against the reigning national champions, the University of Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, who sit atop the pre-season rankings at No. 1. The Redhawks will prove to be tough competition for a young Bearcat team, comprised almost entirely of freshmen.