When players from both Conant and Derryfield School used the term “chippy” to describe the Orioles' 4-1 loss to the visitors from Manchester Wednesday, it was clear that both teams found the match to have more than its share of physical contact. 

Conant assistant coach Scott Egan noted that there were some new players on the squad this year, as 12 members of last year’s team graduated.

Derryfield controlled the ball and kept the pressure on in Conant’s end for the first 10 minutes of the game. Shortly thereafter, Conant had two shots less than a minute apart that sailed just over the crossbar, and was also unable to capitalize on a corner kick.

Turning the play around 18 minutes in, Derryfield striker Mouad Yzzough booted one past Jared Nagle to put the Cougars on the board, off an assist from Avi Ullal.

On another rush for the net, a collision between Yzzough and Nagle prompted an audible reaction from the stands, yet both players managed to shake it off and continue in the game. A yellow card for Conant seemed to spur Derryfield’s offense, and Jake Oliviero made it 2-0 on a shot off a throw-in with 18:02 left in the half.

Conant captain Ben Sawyer used both feet on drives into Derryfield’s zone, one of which resulted in Yzzough taking a hit to the left calf and needing to be helped off the field for ice.

“Communicate!” was the charge from Conant head coach Heather Sawyer during halftime. She also urged her squad to be more careful with their passes and put junior Gary Beaton in goal.

The Orioles started the second half controlling the ball much more and pressing in Derryfield’s end. By the midway point, the visitors couldn’t seem to clear the zone, allowing Connor Egan to feed Logan LaBrecque, who shot past Alistair Wright and get Conant on the board.

Derryfield came back when Juan Sandoval helped Johnny Brown put the ball in the net to make things 3-1.

Contact remained a threat in the match, , and much of the play seemed to hug one sideline or the other, prompting Oriole Evan Blanchette to call out “Use the whole field!” During one such rush for Derryfield, Juan Sandoval put things on ice with a late goal for the 4-1 final.

“A bit chippy,” was how freshman Gavin Schultz described the game after both teams slapped palms in lines. Ben Sawyer echoed the description, adding that “We played better than expected. We had lots of chances. Their goals came on some good shots.”

Schultz pointed out that communicating more on the field will help them in the future.

Still nursing a sore calf, Yzzough also used “chippy" to describe the match, but “We stepped up in spite of it, though.”

Conant’s next match was scheduled for Mascenic’s homecoming Saturday.