We’re not going to get much time to poke fun at Orlando. Might as well get it out of our system.

This is a curtain call for Orlando City, a farewell tour, if you will. The Lions will make the jump to MLS next year, the first time since 2001 that the state of Florida will have top-flight soccer. Since moving the franchise from Austin to Orlando in in 2010, it has been the primary goal for club president Phil Rawlins to get MLS for Orlando within three to five years. They’ll meet that goal, as well as gaining a stadium that will be completed midway through the inaugural season. Four players have already been signed to contracts that put them on this year’s USL PRO roster, as well as securing them spots on the MLS roster. Rumor is still out there that Brazilian soccer legend Kaka will become the franchise’s first Designated Player.

As far as recapping last year, look no further than their affiliation with Sporting Kansas City. Their MLS partnership was greatly used, sending seven different players down throughout the season, including a controversial second go-around for Dom Dwyer. That game was for the USL PRO Championship against Charlotte Eagles. Orlando won 7-4, with Dwyer notching four goals. On the season, Dwyer had 15 goals, tying Jose Angulo for the Golden Boot and the record for most regular season goals scored.

Last year against Pittsburgh was a tale of tragedy and triumph. Making the trip to Highmark Stadium was a struggle, coming away with no goals and a lackluster performance by SKC loan player CJ Sapong. The Riverhounds return leg to Fifth Third Bank Field with the only goal coming from Ryan Kinne (the image will say otherwise. Thanks, typo). It was the first round of the playoffs where Orlando got their revenge, starting their 5-0 rout early on and continuing throughout the game.

This year, Orlando have structured their team to not only take a third USL PRO title, but also as an indicator for manager Adrian Heath to pick to move on to MLS. The team let go a handful of players, including Jamie Watson and Long Tan, but brought in players like Carl Woszczynski and Corey Hertzog. In two different waves of preseason, Orlando went undefeated against three college teams, lost to Chicago Fire and drew all four games in this year’s Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. The Lions already started their 2014 USL PRO campaign, a 1-1 draw to Charleston Battery.