| Victoria Esson | |
| Height: | 1.75 m |
| Fullname: | Victoria Lucy Esson[1] |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Birth Date: | 6 March 1991[2] |
| Birth Place: | Christchurch, New Zealand[3] |
| Currentclub: | Rangers |
| Clubnumber: | 22 |
| Collegeyears1: | 2012–2013 |
| College1: | Texas Tech |
| Collegecaps1: | 40 |
| Collegegoals1: | 0 |
| Years1: | 2014 |
| Clubs1: | Avaldsnes IL |
| Years2: | 2014 |
| Clubs2: | Coastal Spirit FC |
| Years3: | 2014 |
| Clubs3: | Mainland Pride |
| Years4: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs4: | North Shore United (Seagulls) |
| Caps3: | 36 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs5: | Avaldsnes |
| Caps4: | 46 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2022 |
| Clubs6: | SC Sand |
| Caps5: | 4 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2022– |
| Clubs7: | Rangers |
| Caps6: | 12 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2008 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalteam1: | New Zealand U-17 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2017– |
| Nationalcaps2: | 20 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalteam2: | New Zealand |
| Pcupdate: | 9 July 2023 |
| Ntupdate: | 13 February 2024 |
| Caps7: | 22 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
Victoria Lucy Esson (born 6 March 1991) is a New Zealand association football goalkeeper, currently playing for Rangers and represents New Zealand at international level.[4]
Esson started playing football at the age of 10 for Halswell United.[5] At first a midfielder and later defender, she became a goalkeeper at the age of 17. Playing for Burnside High School, Esson became the team captain and played at Secondary School tournaments, getting selected to be part of South Island Secondary Schoolgirls squad and the Mainland's U-14 and U-16 squads.
Esson went to Texas Tech in 2011, becoming Tech's first-ever international football play in the schools history.[6] Esson became Tech's all-time leader in career shut-outs, career goals against and set school records for single season and consecutive shut-outs. Esson also broke the Big 12 Conference record for single season shut-outs with 15 in 2013. Esson ended her time in goal at Tech, winning 41 of their 62 games, including six draws. After graduating, Esson signed with Avaldsnes IL. Struggling to adapt, she returned to New Zealand after just six weeks.[7] She signed with Coastal Spirit FC, but missed most of the season with an injured hand.
In 2014, Esson was captain of Mainland Pride[8] as they won the National Women's League, the top-flight women's football tournament of New Zealand.[9] In 2019, Esson signed with Avaldsnes again, this time playing for three years.[7]
In February 2022, following the injury of first goalkeeper Jasmin Pal, Esson was signed by SC Sand.[10]
In July 2022, Esson joined Scottish club Rangers.[11]
Esson was a member of the New Zealand U-17 side at the 2008 held in New Zealand, playing all three of three of New Zealand's group games. She was also part of the New Zealand U-20 teams for the 2008 and 2010 Women's World Cups but didn't make an appearance on the field.
Esson made her senior debut for the senior New Zealand team, the Football Ferns, against Thailand. Coming on as a sub in the 80th minute in their 5–0 win.[12] [13]
In April 2019, Esson was named to the final 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[14] Esson was the starting goalie for New Zealand in all the games in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[15]
Esson completed her degree in wind, energy and industrial engineering while she was playing football at Texas Tech. Afterwards she got a job at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.[16]