When Zack Schilawksi was back home in Cary last month for the ACC men’s soccer tournament, he said it would be “the ultimate” to come home again for the NCAA College Cup.

After losing 2-1 to Boston College in the ACC tournament final, Schilawski and the Wake Forest men’s soccer team rebounded and won their first three NCAA tournament games and earned a return trip to SAS Soccer Park.

If just getting here were the ultimate, how would the former Cary High standout characterize what actually happened during their stay?

“Perfect,” he said Sunday. “Absolutely.”

Schilawski, a sophomore forward, scored the game-winning goal in the 77th-minute Sunday to give the Demon Deacons a 2-1 win over Ohio State and their first-ever NCAA men’s soccer championship.

“Growing up here, I’ve seen a lot of games on that field,” said Schilawksi, whose home is less than five miles from SAS Soccer Park. “It’s just a thrill to be a part of a game like that, much less to win it for the national championship.”

The goal was Schilawski’s ninth of the season and the fifth tally that was a game-winner. Of his 15 collegiate goals, seven have won games for the Demon Deacons, whose overall record when Schilawski scores is now 11-1.

Scoring a game-winning goal is one thing.

Scoring the national championship-clinching goal is another.

Scoring the national championship-clinching goal in your hometown is still another.

Scoring the national championship-clinching goal in your hometown one year after missing the deciding penalty kick in the national semifinals is …

“That turnaround is unbelievable,” said Wake forward Marcus Tracy, who assisted Schilawski’s goal Sunday. “I’m so happy for him.”

At last year’s College Cup in St. Louis, Schilawski skied a penalty kick over the crossbar against UC-Santa Barbara, ending the Demon Deacons’ season with a 4-3 PK loss to the Gauchos.

“Last year was tough, to come so close,” Schilawski said. “It was tough for everyone. Now, it makes it that much sweeter.”

Schilawski played 61 minutes off the bench Sunday and had four shots, all of which were bona fide scoring chances.

Shortly after checking in, in the 29th minute, he received a pass just inside the box and one-timed it toward the far upper corner. But the shot sailed over the frame.

Early in the second half, his shot from 18 yards out was saved by Ohio State goalkeeper Casey Latchem.

In the 75th minute, Wake’s Cody Arnoux played a long ball into the box, where Schilawski was unmarked. Schilawski leapt to head the ball toward the goal, but he didn’t hit it squarely, and it never threatened Latchem.

Despite missing on several chances, Schilawski didn’t dwell on any of them. “As soon as it’s done, it’s over and out of your mind,” he said. “As a forward, you’ve got to have a short memory.”

Two minutes later, he demonstrated just how unfazed he was when he struck the game-winner.

Tracy streaked down the right side of the field before cutting back toward the goal. As he tried to dribble around a defender, he played a touch a tad too far ahead of himself. Schilawski, who trailed the play, raced into the space and buried the ball at the near post.

“Luckily Marcus did the work and the ball bounced my way,” Schilawski said. “I saw the keeper coming after the ball a little bit and I knocked it in.”

Tracy was credited with the assist, not that setting up Schilawski was his intention on that last touch.

“I cut it left and my touch was a little long. I might have gotten there, but he had a better look coming in,” said Tracy, who scored three goals during the College Cup and was named the offensive most outstanding player. “His positioning was so good and he was able to come and tuck the ball in. … That’s what’s great playing together all the time. We know where to be at at the right time.”

Those two also hooked up in the Demon Deacons’ 2-0 semifinal win Friday against Virginia Tech. Schilawski assisted on Tracy’s second goal against the Hokies.

After two seasons, Schilawski has two College Cup appearances and a national championship — and a very a good chance of doing both again next year — to his credit. He’s scored 15 goals, registered eight assists and appeared in all 51 games Wake Forest has played the last two years, when the Demon Deacons are a combined 40-5-6. Schilawski’s next two seasons in Winston-Salem look just as bright as the first two have proven to be.

But when asked if there was anything that could top Sunday, he said, “Right now, I don’t think so.”