'It's going to be a battle': Canadian women's soccer team prepares for SheBelieves Cup final against U.S.

The last time Canada faced the U.S., the skies opened above San Diego and the two teams slogged it out on a waterlogged pitch in the semifinal of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

Coach Bev Priestman and the Canadian women found themselves having to adapt again Monday because of conditions above, with the solar eclipse prompting a change in plans on the eve of the SheBelieves Cup final against the U.S. in Columbus, Ohio.

Priestman moved up training so as not to go during the eclipse. And the players, equipped with the necessary protective glasses, were eager to take it in.

"It's cool. It's good cultural activity for the players... I saw the look on Jessie Fleming's face when she realized we were going to get to see it," Priestman said.

Fleming, the Canadian captain, is an inquiring mind. The 26-year-old from London, Ont., who has won 129 caps for Canada, was a materials engineering major with an environmental science minor at UCLA.

The ninth-ranked Canadians will be looking for a measure of revenge for last month's penalty shootout loss to the fourth-ranked Americans when the teams run it back Tuesday at Lower.com Field.

The U.S. prevailed that night in a penalty shootout with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopping three spot kicks and scoring one herself to end a Canadian comeback after Priestman's team rallied twice to tie it 2-2 after extra time on a dramatic, soggy night.

Interim U.S. coach Twila Kilgore expects a different game this time around, with conditions expected to be more benign. The forecast calls for temperatures around 19 C with showers.

"We talked a little bit about this this morning as a team, just understanding [that] No. 1, it's a final. That puts a different feel on the game," said Kilgore. "It's a rivalry game.