Bio

Bill Lownds was a key component on the flank for coach John Kurty’s strong Westfield State University soccer teams of the early 1970s.

Lownds’ teams won three MASCAC titles, advanced to one ECAC Tournament, and two NCAA Tournaments, including being part of the 1974 NCAA Division III Final Four team – the only Westfield State men’s team to advance that far in any tournament – and the team was recognized as the first “Team of Distinction” by the Westfield State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.     The four-year team record was 56-14-7.

He tallied a pair of goals in the Owls first round NCAA playoff win over the Coast Guard Academy in 1974.

Lownds totaled eight goals and 16 assists in the 1973 season.

He graduated ranked in the program’s top 10 in goals, assists and points, and his 16 assists in 1973 is still the fourth best season total in program history.

The 1975 yearbook notes that Lownds set a program record for consecutive games played, starting every game as a sophomore, junior and senior.

After graduating from Westfield State, Lownds ran seven Boston Marathons, including running 3:28 with former Owls teammate and captain Mike Walker.

Lownds had 36-year career teaching at the elementary and secondary levels, at Hopkins Academy, Prince Tech, and finally in the New Britain, Conn. Schools for 26 years.  He coached boys soccer at Hopkins where he led his team to the Hampshire League title and the Western Mass semifinals, and coached soccer, softball and tennis while at Prince Tech, and was named as the school’s  coach of the year in 1989-90.

A native of Easthampton, Mass., who now resides in Agawam, Bill has been married to his wife Mary for 45 years, and have two daughters, whom Bill coached in youth soccer and basketball, and four grandsons.