An electrical connector assembly for mating with a mating connector includes a housing having spaced apart sidewalls and first and second slides slide slideably supported in the housing. The first and second slides each include at least one mating slot adapted to receive a mating portion of the mating connector and slideable with respect to the housing between a pre-staged position where the electrical connector is removable from the mating connector and an engaged position where said electrical connector assembly is locked to said mating connector. A slide assist lever is pivotally interconnected with the housing and each of the slides to move the slides between the pre-staged position and the engaged position such that recesses are formed in the housing with the slides when said slides are in the engaged position. The electrical connector assembly also includes an environmental cover positionable to substantially prevent debris from entering the recesses.