Bentley University

After arriving at Bentley from Lima, Peru in 1989, it didn't take long for Jose Tirado to have an effect on the Bentley men's soccer program. And what a positive effect it was!

That first season, the Falcons snapped a lengthy string of sub-.500 seasons by winning 11 of 18 games, beginning another streak, this time a run of nine straight winning seasons.

On that team, which paired Jose with fellow 1998 Hall of Fame inductee Miguel Martin for the first time, the Falcon midfielder earned the first of what would be three consecutive first-team AII-Northeast-10 awards. He led the team in scoring with nine goals, including a hat trick against UMass-Lowell, and four assists. In addition to All-Conference, he was also a second-team Division II All-New England honoree.

"Jose helped elevate the program to above average", said Peter Simonini, Bentley’s head men’s soccer coach from 1987-2007. "Along with Miguel, they teamed up to strike fear in their opponents as they were a dangerous scoring tandem."

Jose improved his own stats to 10 goals, including three game-winners, and six assists in 1990 as Bentley put 11 wins on the board for the second straight season. The 26 points ranked second on both the team and in the conference, trailing only Martin.

Jose's final season, which he capped off with selection to the NSCA Division II All-America first team (the first in Bentley history to be so honored) proved to be one of the most memorable in school history. The Falcons set a school record for wins, finishing 16-4 (a mark later matched by the 1993 club) and earned a number 20 ranking in the final Gatorade Division II poll.

The fall of 1991 saw Jose again finished second to Martin on both the team and in the Northeast-10 in the scoring column, finding the back of the net 11 times and setting up another nine goals. He finished his career with 30 goals and 79 points, a total that is tied for the fifth most ln the program's history.