Continuity.

That was what South Kitsap senior midfielder Hailey Parker felt in late August when she learned Julie Cain would return for a sixth season as the school’s girls soccer coach.

After Cain announced her resignation in June, months passed without an announcement on her successor. Parker feared an adjustment period for the senior-laden Wolves to adjust to a new leader.

“We were really worried that we wouldn’t have a coach who could connect with us as players,” she said.

After all, Parker is among a half-dozen seniors who played on the school’s 2011 squad that reached the Class 4A state quarterfinals. Since then, South’s state prospects were hindered by the loss of future college players Miranda Caballero and Becca Schoales, both of whom missed seasons with knee injuries before they graduated, and the potential transition to a new coach.

But with Cain returning for one more season, Parker said those concerns have been quelled. The greater issue for Parker, a captain, relates to offensive execution. During the first half of 4A Narrows League play last season, the Wolves scored 10 goals — half came in one contest at Yelm — and produced a 2-2-2 record. In the second half, they scored 14 goals and finished 4-2-0.

“Our goal this year is to make sure we get out fast and come out with pace,” Parker said.

Cain shared similar sentiments.

“We’re working on being able to put the ball in the back of the net,” she said. “I think that’s our biggest challenge early in the season.”

Parker will play in the midfield along with juniors Ari de la Cruz and Kayleanna Quichocho and senior Hayley Romo. They are joined by senior forwards Rachael Prince, who also could play midfield, and Melyssa Smith, junior Andie Rogers and sophomores Ashlan Burris and Kelly Crebs.

“She was out a bit with injuries last year,” said Cain, referring to Smith. “She’s very fast. She looks good this year.”

Parker said the team has benefited from the return of 2009 4A Narrows co-MVP Christina Boddie, who played two seasons at the University of Idaho. Boddie — a candidate to succeed Cain in 2015 — practices with players as the program’s junior-varsity coach.

“I think she’s really inspirational to us,” said Parker, who has verbally committed to play next season at California’s Westmont College, where Cain competed from 1992-95. “She’s preparing us really well.

“Our theme this year is ‘No regrets.’ Last year, we didn’t always have the mindset to go hard in practice 100 percent. (Boddie’s) going to challenge us to do our best.”

That could extend beyond Boddie as South’s strength might be its defense. The Wolves allowed nine goals in league contests last year. Opponents only scored fewer times against Olympia (7) and Gig Harbor (8) in 4A Narrows play.

While a knee injury suffered during club season will sideline junior Hayley Wolf for the season, South returns junior Kendra Biewald, seniors Adri Jackson, Kylee Platt and Natalie Stephens and sophomore Mikaela Morey on the backline.

“Defensively, I think we’re a month ahead of where we were last year,” Cain said.

South also returns both of its goalkeepers, sophomore Chandler Greenwood and senior Elisa Randel, from last year.

“There’s two strong keepers back that will compete,” Cain said.

Because the Wolves return 15 players from their 4A West Central/Southwest Bi-District Tournament — and nine are seniors — only one freshman will compete on varsity when they open the season at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at North Kitsap. Cain said she is not sure where Savannah Foster will play, but she believes the newcomer is talented enough to compete at several positions.

But even with South’s experience and depth, Cain expects playoff spots to be competitive in 4A Narrows. The Wolves open league play at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 16 at Olympia, which finished third in state last year. Bellarmine Prep and Gig Harbor also are regular participants at state.

“Our league is really tough this year,” Cain said. “Olympia made it to the final and really didn’t lose anyone.”

Similar to last year, she believes South could establish, or curtail, its playoff prospects early in the season. And if it is the former, she likes her team’s chances at reaching state for the first time since 2011.

“I think we should be very competitive,” Cain said. “We could go deep.”