Schilawski happy to make his goals

At Wake Forest, Zack Schilawski experienced the lowest and highest points of his soccer career: a season-ending missed penalty kick one year and a NCAA championship-winning goal the next.

"From goat to hero, what happened was unbelievable," Wake Forest coach Jay Vidovich said. "His perseverance was fantastic. That was the great story about Zack."

Recently, he set out to prove it won't end there.

As the New England Revolution's first-round pick in the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, Schilawski moved to Boston at the end of January to begin his professional playing career.

"That was always the goal," the Cary native said. "I've been playing so long, and there's been a lot of ups and downs. But I always thought I had the potential to do it."

His potential was showcased in his final season at Wake.

Schilawski scored an ACC-leading 14 goals and led Wake in points and game-winning goals. Backed by his outstanding résumé, he became one of four Demon Deacons drafted by the MLS.

"He has played in big games and delivered in pressure," teammate Corben Bone said. "He really has all the credits that make him a leader."

Schilawski began playing soccer at the age of 3 and continued playing for the Carolina RailHawks U23s/Cary Clarets of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League and Cary High School.

But with all the winning goals in his collegiate career, Schilawski recalled the shot he missed.

In 2006, Schilawski stepped up to the team's final penalty kick against UC Santa Barbara in the College Cup semifinals. The freshman's kick flew over the crossbar, ending the team's postseason.

Vidovich recalled consoling the devastated player in the airport, telling him he would move on.

"A lot of people's careers were over as soon as I missed that shot," Schilawski said. "It's a tough way to lose."

The next season, Schilawski found himself at SAS Soccer Park, just five minutes from where he grew up.

With the score tied at 1-1 against Ohio State in the national championship game, he received a cross from teammate Marcus Tracy and fired a shot from 10 yards out.

He netted the winning goal and his favorite collegiate memory.

"It was a great payoff for him," Vidovich said. "A testament to his humility and patience."

Schilawski's accomplishments are not confined to athletics. He was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Men's College Scholar All-American first team and ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American first team.

So though he won many World Cup championships in his backyard growing up, the dreams never ended there.

Schilawski graduated with a degree in biology and ambitions of attending optometry school one day.

"Hopefully, it will be later rather than sooner," he said. "But I know I can't play forever, and it is something I've always wanted to pursue."

As he prepared to pack up his car and drive north, he considered the narrative of his collegiate career.

Schilawski said he didn't necessarily consider it a redemption story. More like happy endings and beginnings.

"It's hard not to be satisfied," he said. "It's hard to imagine being any luckier than I was."