University of Maine senior football players Marcus Williams, Christian Pereira and Brandon McGowan have agreed to sign free-agent contracts with NFL teams, the school announced Monday.

Williams, Maine’s all-time leading rusher (3,940 yards), will sign with the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver Pereira is headed to the Green Bay Packers, and defensive back Brandon McGowan is going to the Chicago Bears. All three will take part in mini-camps this week with their respective teams.

“These three players received the most interest this year from NFL teams,” Maine coach Jack Cosgrove said. “I know that all of them are excited for the opportunity to perform at the next level. It would not surprise me to see all three on an NFL roster in the fall.”

Williams was an All-Atlantic 10 first-team pick last season when he compiled 1,077 yards on 218 carries. He is the only Maine player to rush for more than 1,000 yards for three seasons and holds the career record for rushing touchdowns with 35.

McGowan was also a first-team league pick after leading his team in tackles with 101. He had 31/2 sacks, three interceptions, and forced a fumble.

Pereira was a third-team league selection both last season and in 2003. He led Maine last season with 58 catches for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 10 TDs in 2003.

UM softball team gets spark

The UMaine softball team is in the midst of its toughest conference stretch of the season, but the Black Bears are hoping Sunday’s 9-5 victory over league leader Albany will spark them the rest of the way.

Maine, in second place with a 7-4 conference mark, will now endure a stretch of six road games in four days, starting with a doubleheader Wednesday at fourth-place Boston University and a single game against the Terriers Thursday.

The Bears will continue on to Baltimore for a three-game series against sixth-place University of Maryland Baltimore County with a doubleheader Friday and a single game Saturday.

It doesn’t get any easier for Maine in the final weekend of regular-season play. The Black Bears will host third-place Stony Brook May 7-8.

That’s one of the reasons Sunday’s win over Albany may prove to be important.

“It was a good win to lead into the week,” interim head coach Michelle Puls said after the game. “If you look at our schedule, we’ve played the bottom teams in the conference and now we’re playing the top teams. We’re 7-4 now and that’s a good spot to be in. That’s the good thing. We’re right where we need to be.”

There were some encouraging signs in Sunday’s game. Maine pounded out 12 hits, including four home runs and three doubles. That’s from a team which entered the weekend series with a .221 batting average.

There were no errors from the left side of the infield in Sunday’s game, where third baseman Lauren Dulkis and shortstop Brittany Cheney have uncharacteristically struggled at times.

“Our bats were on time, finally,” Puls said. “… It was good to see solid defense. Our only error was in the outfield where [right fielder Molly McKinney] was trying to be aggressive and throw [a baserunner] out at first.”

The Black Bears did struggle a bit this weekend with moving baserunners, stranding a total of 19 in three games. Maine tried a number of bunts but struggled to get them to work.

“It’s frustrating because in practice it doesn’t matter where we put it, we’re getting it down,” Puls said. “But in the games we’re not bringing that intensity.”

The biggest loss from the weekend may be due to injury, however. Puls said it isn’t yet known how long the Bears will be without senior catcher Lindsay Tibbetts, who suffered what is likely a high ankle sprain to her left leg during Saturday’s opener.

Tibbetts’ backup is Maggie Soule, a sophomore from Pepperell, Mass. She had 16 starts at catcher last year and has made 16 appearances so far this year, including 15 starts, and is batting .088 with three hits and an RBI.

Soule is 2-for-17 on stolen base attempts with seven passed balls.

Puls used a designated hitter for Soule in Saturday’s second game and Sunday’s outing in order to give her a rest.

“Down this stretch Maggie’s gonna have to have some iron legs,” Puls said. “She loves to catch and that’s why I decided to [use a DH for her], just to give her a little break.”

Tibbetts, a senior from Berwick, had been batting .211 with 12 hits and six RBIs in 23 appearances, including 20 starts. She was 3-of-12 on stolen-base attempts and had no passed balls.