INDIANAPOLIS - SIUE peppered IUPUI with 23 shots Tuesday afternoon and collected a 1-0 win in its men's soccer exhibition opener.

SIUE Head Coach Kevin Kalish said his coaching staff saw some promising moments in the first game of the 2012 season.

"It was a quality performance for us in many aspects. For the first game, we felt there was many positives to build on from today's contest," Kalish said.

Senior Benny Jeffery scored the game's only goal in the first half. The Cougar midfielder, who sat out all of last season due to an injury, connected on a free kick from 18 yards out with 1:09 to play in the opening half.

"It's great to see Benny back in a Cougar uniform on the field again. He is such a quality player who raises our team's performance to another level. It was a phenomenal strike," Kalish said.

Jeffery recorded four shots in his first action since last exhibition season.

SIUE forward Christian Volesky led the offense with seven shots as the Cougars kept IUPUI goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes busy. Cortes finished with seven saves. Eleven different SIUE players recorded at least one shot.

SIUE goalkeeper John Berner made both of the saves for the Cougars as the Jaguars were limited to six shots. Kent Kobernus played 30 minutes of the second half and faced one IUPUI shot.

"We are eager to get back on the training field again so we can keep progressing. Only 10 days until the season opener," added Kalish.

The Cougars return home Friday night for an exhibition at Korte Stadium. SIUE entertains Missouri Valley Conference rival Missouri State at 7.