An electrical connector assembly comprising: a connector having a plurality of electrical terminals , said connector having an outer surface that includes a plurality of retraction fins ; a corresponding mating connector having a plurality of mating electrical terminals , said mating connector releasably connected to the connector along a mating axis such that the plurality of electrical terminals mate with the plurality of mating electrical terminals when the connector is moved from an unmated position to a mated position , said mating connector including a connector shroud having side walls defining a shroud cavity configured to receive the connector therein and a base ; and a terminal stabilizer slideably disposed within the shroud cavity including a plurality of retraction locks that engage the plurality of retraction fins on the connector and defining a plurality of terminal apertures that slideably engage the plurality of mating electrical terminals , said terminal stabilizer moveable from a pre-staged position when the connector and the mating connector are in the unmated position to a seated position when the connector is moved to the mated position , thereby retracting the terminal stabilizer from the seated position to the pre-staged position when the connector is moved from the mated position to the unmated position , characterized in that the terminal stabilizer further includes a resilient member projecting from a bottom surface of the terminal stabilizer configured to exert a spring force on the base in order to urge the terminal stabilizer from the seated position to the pre-staged position . a connector having a plurality of electrical terminals , said connector having an outer surface that includes a plurality of retraction fins ; a corresponding mating connector having a plurality of mating electrical terminals , said mating connector releasably connected to the connector along a mating axis such that the plurality of electrical terminals mate with the plurality of mating electrical terminals when the connector is moved from an unmated position to a mated position , said mating connector including a connector shroud having side walls defining a shroud cavity configured to receive the connector therein and a base ; and a terminal stabilizer slideably disposed within the shroud cavity including a plurality of retraction locks that engage the plurality of retraction fins on the connector and defining a plurality of terminal apertures that slideably engage the plurality of mating electrical terminals , said terminal stabilizer moveable from a pre-staged position when the connector and the mating connector are in the unmated position to a seated position when the connector is moved to the mated position , thereby retracting the terminal stabilizer from the seated position to the pre-staged position when the connector is moved from the mated position to the unmated position , characterized in that the terminal stabilizer further includes a resilient member projecting from a bottom surface of the terminal stabilizer configured to exert a spring force on the base in order to urge the terminal stabilizer from the seated position to the pre-staged position . <EOS>