David Testo
Encyclopedia
David Testo is an American
soccer player. He is one of the few openly gay
athletes in professional sports.
's TC Roberson High School, where he was named the North Carolina state player of the year in 1998, Testo played his first and second years of college soccer
at the University of South Carolina
, where he registered 6 goals and 11 assists in 33 games. After his sophomore season, Testo moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where he emerged as a major force, helping lead the Tar Heels to an NCAA Championship his junior season. Testo was named to the All-ACC
second team both his seasons at UNC, after scoring 11 goals and 6 assists as a junior, and 7 goals and 9 assists as a senior.
despite a significant amount of experience with the Youth U.S. national teams
, most likely caused by his reputation as being temperamental. Testo therefore signed with the Richmond Kickers
, with whom he made an immediate impact, playing in 28 games and scoring six goals. For his performance, Testo was named the A-League's 2003 Rookie of the Year.
After his performance in the A-League, several MLS
teams were interested in Testo, but he ended up with the Columbus Crew
. Due to many injuries Testo was sidelined however he received more action in 2005, and he ended the season with a goal and multiple assists, Testo was released. He then signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Despite missing several games due to serious injuries in mid-season with the Whitecaps, Dave's quick pivots and brilliant touch passes made him a favourite among fans and teammates in this his first season in Vancouver. He was named Newcomer of the Year and was second in team scoring (7 goals, 7 assists) behind Joey Gjertsen
(13 goals, 7 assists) while playing both as a striker and in his preferred midfield positions equally well. Fans from his college and MLS days will be pleased to know that he still plays with an edge on the field and retains an off-duty style all his own. Dave assisted on both Whitecaps goals scored in the final five minutes of OT in the USL semifinal match on September 24 when the Caps defeated Montreal 2-0 in that vibrant city to earn a spot in the USL championship game against Rochester on September 30.
The Whitecaps became the first team in USL history to win a championship game on the road as they withstood a fifteen minute all-out attack by the Rhinos to start the game and then dominated their hosts to win 3 - 0 before 10,000 partisan and rain-soaked fans. The 'Caps scored 11 goals and only surrendered one (on a free kick) in five playoff games and one OT period. Vancouver's second goal in this game was a result of Testo's pass to Gjertsen who one-timed it to a charging Tony Donatelli
; Tony held on for an interminable two seconds before powering it home to the back of the net. Testo earned an assist on the final goal with a brilliant pass to Matondo who scored easily to end all doubt. Dave started celebrating by running into the stands to hug his mother who had come up from North Carolina to join a small but vocal contingent of Whitecaps supporters.
Testo was traded to the Montreal Impact
on July 26, 2007 along with Joey Gjertsen
for Alen Marcina
, and Zé Roberto
. He recorded his first goal for Montreal on August 1, 2007 against Carolina Railhawks. During the 2008 USL season
Testo played in 20 matches for the Impact, and scored one goal against Miami FC
on July 18, 2008. In the 2008 Canadian Championship
he appeared in all four matches for the Impact, and scored a goal in 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. He helped the Impact qualify for the first time for the CONCACAF Champions League
by winning the Canadian Championship. During the club's playoff run Testo scored in the quarterfinal match against Portland Timbers
.
During the 2009 USL season Testo contributed by helping the Impact clinch a playoff spot under new head coach Marc Dos Santos
. He recorded his first playoff goal in the quarterfinal match against Charleston Battery
. The match resulted in 2-1 victory for the Impact, and allowing the Impact to advance to the finals by winning their second match on aggregate. Montreal would advance on to the finals where their opponents would end up being the Vancouver Whitecaps, thus marking the first time in USL history where the final match would consist of two Canadian clubs. In the final Testo helped the Impact win the series 6-3 on aggregate. The victory gave the Impact their third USL Championship and also the victory marked Testo's second USL Championship. On October 6, 2009 David Testo received the Giuseppe-Saputo Trophy, presented to the Montreal Impact’s Most Valuable Player during the team’s 2009 awards banquet. On November 30, 2009 Testo signed a new two-year deal with the club.
Testo was released by Montreal on October 12, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player. He is one of the few openly gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
athletes in professional sports.
College
After a standout prep career at Skyland, North CarolinaSkyland, North Carolina
Skyland is an unincorporated community in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is on U.S. Route 25, where North Carolina Highway 146 starts, east of Interstate 26. It is north of Royal Pines, south of Biltmore Forest, and a suburb of Asheville....
's TC Roberson High School, where he was named the North Carolina state player of the year in 1998, Testo played his first and second years of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, where he registered 6 goals and 11 assists in 33 games. After his sophomore season, Testo moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he emerged as a major force, helping lead the Tar Heels to an NCAA Championship his junior season. Testo was named to the All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
second team both his seasons at UNC, after scoring 11 goals and 6 assists as a junior, and 7 goals and 9 assists as a senior.
Professional
Upon graduating from college, Testo was surprisingly undrafted in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft2003 MLS SuperDraft
The 2003 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held January 17, 2003 in Kansas City, Missouri.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:References=* USA Today MLS Draft List...
despite a significant amount of experience with the Youth U.S. national teams
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, most likely caused by his reputation as being temperamental. Testo therefore signed with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, with whom he made an immediate impact, playing in 28 games and scoring six goals. For his performance, Testo was named the A-League's 2003 Rookie of the Year.
After his performance in the A-League, several MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
teams were interested in Testo, but he ended up with the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. Due to many injuries Testo was sidelined however he received more action in 2005, and he ended the season with a goal and multiple assists, Testo was released. He then signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Despite missing several games due to serious injuries in mid-season with the Whitecaps, Dave's quick pivots and brilliant touch passes made him a favourite among fans and teammates in this his first season in Vancouver. He was named Newcomer of the Year and was second in team scoring (7 goals, 7 assists) behind Joey Gjertsen
Joey Gjertsen
Joey Gjertsen is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College:...
(13 goals, 7 assists) while playing both as a striker and in his preferred midfield positions equally well. Fans from his college and MLS days will be pleased to know that he still plays with an edge on the field and retains an off-duty style all his own. Dave assisted on both Whitecaps goals scored in the final five minutes of OT in the USL semifinal match on September 24 when the Caps defeated Montreal 2-0 in that vibrant city to earn a spot in the USL championship game against Rochester on September 30.
The Whitecaps became the first team in USL history to win a championship game on the road as they withstood a fifteen minute all-out attack by the Rhinos to start the game and then dominated their hosts to win 3 - 0 before 10,000 partisan and rain-soaked fans. The 'Caps scored 11 goals and only surrendered one (on a free kick) in five playoff games and one OT period. Vancouver's second goal in this game was a result of Testo's pass to Gjertsen who one-timed it to a charging Tony Donatelli
Tony Donatelli
Anthony "Tony" Donatelli is an American soccer player currently playing for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and College:...
; Tony held on for an interminable two seconds before powering it home to the back of the net. Testo earned an assist on the final goal with a brilliant pass to Matondo who scored easily to end all doubt. Dave started celebrating by running into the stands to hug his mother who had come up from North Carolina to join a small but vocal contingent of Whitecaps supporters.
Testo was traded to the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
on July 26, 2007 along with Joey Gjertsen
Joey Gjertsen
Joey Gjertsen is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College:...
for Alen Marcina
Alen Marcina
Alen Marcina is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Miami FC in the USL First Division.-Club:...
, and Zé Roberto
José Roberto Gomes Santana
José Roberto Gomes Santana, commonly known as Zé Roberto is an association footballer who most recently played for the Rochester Rhinos in the USL First Division. Zé Roberto began his career in his native Brazil, where he played with several clubs in the lower divisions...
. He recorded his first goal for Montreal on August 1, 2007 against Carolina Railhawks. During the 2008 USL season
United Soccer Leagues 2008
The 2008 Season is the 22nd edition of the United Soccer Leagues season.The season kicked off on Friday, April 12 with two First Division games, as the Charleston Battery visited Miami FC and the Montreal Impact visited the Vancouver Whitecaps.-General:...
Testo played in 20 matches for the Impact, and scored one goal against Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
on July 18, 2008. In the 2008 Canadian Championship
2008 Canadian Championship
The 2008 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2008....
he appeared in all four matches for the Impact, and scored a goal in 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. He helped the Impact qualify for the first time for the CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
by winning the Canadian Championship. During the club's playoff run Testo scored in the quarterfinal match against Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
.
During the 2009 USL season Testo contributed by helping the Impact clinch a playoff spot under new head coach Marc Dos Santos
Marc Dos Santos
Marc Dos Santos is a Canadian soccer manager. Most recently, Dos Santos was the head coach of the Montreal Impact in the D2 Pro League from 2009 until his resignation in June 2011. Dos Santos is of Portuguese ancestry.-Trois-Rivières Attak:...
. He recorded his first playoff goal in the quarterfinal match against Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
. The match resulted in 2-1 victory for the Impact, and allowing the Impact to advance to the finals by winning their second match on aggregate. Montreal would advance on to the finals where their opponents would end up being the Vancouver Whitecaps, thus marking the first time in USL history where the final match would consist of two Canadian clubs. In the final Testo helped the Impact win the series 6-3 on aggregate. The victory gave the Impact their third USL Championship and also the victory marked Testo's second USL Championship. On October 6, 2009 David Testo received the Giuseppe-Saputo Trophy, presented to the Montreal Impact’s Most Valuable Player during the team’s 2009 awards banquet. On November 30, 2009 Testo signed a new two-year deal with the club.
Testo was released by Montreal on October 12, 2011.
Personal life
In an interview on French Canadian public broadcaster Radio Canada that was published on November 10, 2011, Testo stated that he is gay and that his family, friends, teammates, and team management were aware of his homosexuality. Since his coming out, former teammates have expressed support and respect for Testo.Vancouver Whitecaps
- USL First DivisionUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Championship (1): 2006United Soccer Leagues 2006-General:* Miami FC joined the First Division.* The Richmond Kickers departed the First Division for the Second Division.* The Northern Virginia Royals departed the Second Division for the Premier Development League ....
Montreal Impact
- USL First DivisionUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Championship (1): 2009 - Voyageurs CupVoyageurs CupThe Voyageurs Cup is the only trophy for top-level professional soccer in Canada. From 2002 to 2007, the cup was awarded annually to the Canadian team finishing with the best record in the USL First Division, from regular season matches against other Canadian teams in the league, and from 2008 the...
(2): 2007, 2008
Career stats
| Team | Season | League | Domestic League |
Domestic Playoffs |
Domestic Cup1 |
Concacaf Competition2 |
Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | |||
| Richmond Kickers Richmond Kickers The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
2003 | USL-1 USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
28 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 28 | 6 | 2 |
| Columbus Crew Columbus Crew The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada... |
2004 | MLS Major League Soccer Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada... |
16 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | MLS Major League Soccer Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada... |
17 | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 17 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2006 | MLS Major League Soccer Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada... |
0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 2006 | USL-1 USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
21 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 26 | 7 | 6 |
| 2007 | USL-1 USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
16 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 1 | 1 | |
| Montreal Impact Montreal Impact Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe... |
2007 | USL-1 USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | USL-1 USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
20 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2009 | USL-1 USL First Division The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.... |
26 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 34 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2010 2010 Montreal Impact season The 2010 Montreal Impact season is the 17th season of the franchise and the team played in the USSF Division 2 Pro League.- Conference table :-Players:... |
USSF D2 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 29 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2011 2011 Montreal Impact season The 2011 Montreal Impact season was the 18th season of the franchise. It was be the club's final season in the NASL before a new Major League Soccer club of the same name, with the same ownership replaces the Impact for the 2012 season.-Results summary:... |
NASL | 20 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 22 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total MLS Major League Soccer Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada... | 33 | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 33 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Total USSF D2 | 162 | 16 | 7 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 196 | 21 | 13 | ||