The Illawarra's NSW National Premier League One team claimed their first competition point following a 1-all draw with Blacktown at Ian McLennan Park on Sunday.

Cooper scored the Stingrays' sole goal.

The result follows the Stingrays' 4-1 loss to APIA Leichhardt FC in the opening round. As the Stingrays eye off their first win, coach Tilt said the team's experienced core group were crucial.

"I think they're essential to the game because they lift the players around them," Tilt said.

"You look at someone like Margot Chauvet, whose a young girl coming through and she just enjoys those players around her who are thinking one step ahead all the time. It's helping all of the other girls step up to a higher level."

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Tilt said the Stingrays were gelling together after a limited pre-season preparation.

"Against APIA, we played well for about 80 minutes and fell away in the last little bit. But Sunday night was a full 90-minute game and we could have easily won that," he said.

"You're never happy when you have a draw, we were a little naive in some areas of the park. But having said that, we took it to them from the start and scored a great goal through Caitlin Cooper which I'm sure will be on a highlights reel in football anywhere at the moment - it was an absolute cracker. The wind and wet weather makes it very difficult on the artificial pitch but we played some fantastic football, blooded in some new players and did a good job.

"Obviously our pre season was limited like everyone else. The girls are now training consistently together and it's working really nicely... but we've got some big games coming up."