An electrical connector includes a socket with a number of electrical contacts and a loading mechanism surrounding the socket. The loading mechanism includes a stiffener, a load plate mounted to one end of the stiffener and rotating from an open position to a closed position, and a sliding latch mounted to an opposite end of the stiffener. The load plate has a plate portion and a tongue extending downwardly from the plate portion at said opposite end. The sliding latch moves on the stiffener in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to lock or unlock the load plate.