By staff and wire reports

ORONO – Quarterback Ron Whitcomb scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down in overtime to give Maine a 27-24 win over Rhode Island on Saturday.

The Rams (4-6, 2-5 Atlantic 10) rallied from a 21-10 third quarter deficit to tie the game at 21-21 with just over a minute to play in regulation when Colin Gallagher kicked a 30-yard field goal.

Gallagher hit a 36-yarder on Rhode Island’s overtime possession to give the Rams a 24-21 lead.

Instead of going for the tie on fourth town, Maine (5-5, 3-4) went for the win and Whitcomb followed his left guard into the end zone.

Whitcomb was 23 of 43 for a season-high 286 yards, including a 6-yard pass to Kevin McMahan at 10:15 of the third quarter that gave the Black Bears a 21-10 lead.

Colby 28, Bowdoin 3

BRUNSWICK – Aaron Stepka rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown and Justin Smith passed for two scores as Colby College defeated Bowdoin 28-3 on Saturday.

With the victory, Colby (7-1) took home the coveted CBB trophy – Colby, Bates and Bowdoin – and earned Maine bragging rights for another year.

Bowdoin (6-2) scored first on a 22-yard field goal by Nolan McNair, but Colby took the lead early in the second quarter when Smith hit Rob Jacobs for a 2-yard touchdown.

Women’s soccer

Bates 3, Eastern Connecticut 1

SOMERVILLE, Mass – Jessie Gargiulo scored three goals in the second half to carry Bates College to a 3-1 victory over Eastern Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday. Kim Alexander had a pair of assists for the Bobcats who improve to 14-3-1.

Eastern Connecticut’s Jenn Orme netted the game’s first goal on a feed from Kaytee Zielinkski at the five-minute mark of the first half. Bates will face Tufts today at 1 p.m.

Women’s ice hockey

Maine, Providence tie

PROVIDENCE – The University of Maine skated to a 3-3 tie with Providence in women’s ice hockey action Saturday.

Sheri Wauters put the Black Bears (5-2-2) on the board at 14:06 of the first period with assists from Jenna Cowan and Chantal Jaillet.

Senior Karen Thatcher and junior Kristin Gigliotti countered with a goal apiece to give the Friars (3-3-1) a 2-1 advantage going into the second period.

Maine battled back in the second period with a pair of goals.

Cheryl White tied the game, 2-2, with a power play goal at 3:48, and retied it again nine minutes later following a Friar equalizer.

Field hockey

Bowdoin 2, College of New Jersey 0

BRUNSWICK – Lindsey McNamara scored the eventual game-winner as Bowdoin advanced to the third-round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 win over the College of New Jersey in field hockey action Saturday.

The Polar Bears (17-0) wasted little time getting on the board. Less than seven minutes into the contest, a cross by Christi Gannon got behind Lion (15-5) goaltender Kristina Beyel and was put home by McNamara.

The Lions initiated a strong rush in the second period, and midway through the frame had three consecutive penalty-corner opportunities. The Bowdoin defense rose to the occasion and did not allow a score.

Burgess LePage sealed the victory for the Polar Bears on a tally with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation.